The Hebrew, Latin, Ge’ez, and Greek that is translated as “bronze” in English is translated in Newari as “bell-metal,” since bells are made of bronze in Nepal (source: Newari Back Translation).
See also bronze vessel.
וּמִבֶּ֥טַח וּמִבֵּֽרֹתַ֖י עָרֵ֣י הֲדַדְעָ֑זֶר לָקַ֞ח הַמֶּ֧לֶךְ דָּוִ֛ד נְחֹ֖שֶׁת הַרְבֵּ֥ה מְאֹֽד׃ ס
8From Betah and from Berothai, towns of Hadadezer, King David took a great amount of bronze.
The Hebrew, Latin, Ge’ez, and Greek that is translated as “bronze” in English is translated in Newari as “bell-metal,” since bells are made of bronze in Nepal (source: Newari Back Translation).
See also bronze vessel.
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Samuel 8:8:
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Faye Edgerton retells how the term in Navajo (Dinė) was determined:
“[This term was] easily expressed in the language of Biblical culture, which had kings and noblemen with their brilliant trappings and their position of honor and praise. But leadership among the Navajos is not accompanied by any such titles or distinctions of dress. Those most respected, especially in earlier days, were their headmen, who were the leaders in raids, and the shaman, who was able to serve the people by appealing for them to the gods, or by exorcising evil spirits. Neither of these made any outward show. Neither held his position by political intrigue or heredity. If the headman failed consistently in raids, he was superceded by a better warrior. If the shaman failed many times in his healing ceremonies, it was considered that he was making mistakes in the chants, or had lost favor with the gods, and another was sought. The term Navajos use for headman is derived from a verb meaning ‘to move the head from side to side as in making an oration.’ The headman must be a good orator, able to move the people to go to war, or to follow him in any important decision. This word is naat’áanii which now means ‘one who rules or bosses.’ It is employed now for a foreman or boss of any kind of labor, as well as for the chairman of the tribal council. So in order to show that the king is not just a common boss but the highest ruler, the word ‘aláahgo, which expresses the superlative degree, was put before naat’áanii, and so ‘aláahgo naat’áanii ‘anyone-more-than-being around-he-moves-his-head-the-one-who’ means ‘the highest ruler.’ Naat’áanii was used for governor as the context usually shows that the person was a ruler of a country or associated with kings.”
(Source: Faye Edgerton in The Bible Translator 1962, p. 25ff. )
See also king (Japanese honorifics).
The name that is transliterated as “David” in English means “beloved.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )
In Spanish Sign Language it is translated with the sign signifying king and a sling (referring to 1 Samuel 17:49 and 2 Samuel 5:4). (Source: John Elwode in The Bible Translator 2008, p. 78ff. )
“Elizabeth” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España
In German Sign Language it is only the sling. (See here ).
“David” in German Sign Language (source )
For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .
The (Protestant) Mandarin Chinese transliteration of “David” is 大卫 (衛) / Dàwèi which carries an additional meaning of “Great Protector.”
Learn more on Bible Odyssey: David .
The structure of this verse in Hebrew as reflected by Revised Standard Version may prove to be awkward in many languages. The prepositional phrase from Betah and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer comes first but is dependent on the main clause that follows. In Good News Translation the main clause has been moved up to the beginning of the sentence.
Betah: New International Version has “Tebah” in harmony with 1 Chr 18.8, which actually has “Tibhath,” but which is also transformed to “Tebah” by New International Version. New American Bible and Osty-Trinquet also have “Tebah” here but do not alter the parallel in Chronicles. While the consonants may have been reversed during the process of transmission, the textual evidence for this is scant, and the problem is not even dealt with by Hebrew Old Testament Text Project or Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament. Translators should probably follow the reading Betah.
Berothai: the 1 Chronicles (18.8) account has “Cun” at this point. But there is no justification for harmonizing the two accounts. Translators should have Berothai in this verse.
Bronze: or “copper” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). Since bronze is an alloy of copper and tin, it is possible that the purer meaning (“copper”) is intended here. See the comments at 1 Sam 17.5, where the same term is used. Bible du rabbinat français also has “copper,” although most translations say “bronze,” which would have been stronger than copper.
At the end of this verse, the Septuagint has the following addition: “with that Solomon made the bronze sea and the pillars and the basin and all the utensils.” These words seem to have been added to harmonize the text with that in 1 Chr 18.8. Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament gives a {B} rating to the Masoretic Text, which is followed by nearly all translations consulted.
Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 2. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
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